NJ Towns Meeting Affordable Housing Goals May Get Funding Priority

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — When it comes to getting funding from New Jersey, towns and cities that meet their affordable housing “obligations” deserve to jump to the front of the line, a state senator says.

Earlier this month, the New Jersey Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee voted 3-2 to advance a proposed state law, S-2506.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Renee Burgess (NJ-28), explained the need for the law in a statement:

“Historically, many municipalities in our state have been reluctant to take steps necessary to achieve their affordable housing obligations. By offering priority consideration for grants and assistance, we can encourage municipalities to more actively work towards meeting those obligations, which can lead to increased efforts to develop and maintain affordable housing within their community.”

If it becomes law, the bill would require the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to give priority consideration to municipalities that are in compliance with their affordable housing obligations when they award competitive grants or other financial assistance through the Main Street New Jersey Program, Neighborhood Preservation Program or other similar initiatives.

The bill’s provisions would not apply to grants or financial assistance intended to help a municipality fulfill its affordable housing obligation. See Related: Here’s What The New Affordable Housing Law Means For NJ Homeowners

For the purposes of the bill, the DCA would consider the following factors in determining a municipality’s compliance in the first five years after a new round of affordable housing obligations begin:

• Prior round builder’s remedy lawsuits
• Prior round fair share settlements
• The percentage of fulfilled obligation
• Any other factor deemed “relevant” by the department

The state’s 28th Legislative District includes the following municipalities: Irvington, Maplewood, Newark and South Orange (Essex County), and Hillside (Union County).

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